 Indicates a Viva
Founding Member |
Cheryl
Allen | Alto
I am a project management consultant
by profession, and Viva gives me the
opportunity to nourish my musical
aspirations—I have learned that I
love to sing!
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Jennie Brown
| Alto
I am an original Vivan and love the
camaraderie, challenge and joy of
making beautiful music together.
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Mary Burns | Alto
I love to sing—anything from Green
Day to Broadway tunes to Bach’s
Magnificat.
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Odette
Ledesma | Soprano
Singing is comfort food for my soul.
I love Viva for giving me the
opportunity to do so in style.
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Evelyn
Eaton | Soprano
Viva has been a major inspiration
for me since its formation.
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Barbara Gehrels
| Alto
Practicing jazz standards as a child
with my grandmother at the piano and
evolving into a rhythm and blues
vocalist with bay-area bands,
singing in a chamber choir at Holy
Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco
and now an Alto with Viva la
Musica... it doesn’t get any better
than this!
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Jane
Goold-Caulfield |
Alto
I am a speech pathologist and I
enjoy harmonizing everywhere and
with whomever I can, including my
howling Springer Spaniels, but
especially with Viva la Musica! I
have learned so much and am so
thankful for Viva in my life!
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Helen Governale |
Soprano
Being a Vivan keeps my voice in
shape, I am challenged with new
music and the members are so
friendly
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Gene
Hall | Tenor
Bach must have loved tenors!
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Margaret Hall
| Alto
Viva is learning, friends, fun, and
lots of practice—all to enrich,
enjoy and embrace with music!
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Amy Jervis |
Soprano
I divide my time between parenting,
dead languages, history, and Viva. I
began singing with Shulamit ten
years ago.
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Ann Keiffer | Soprano
I am a Viva cheerleader,
artful-creator, color-bringer,
connection-maker, Holy
Spirit-seeker-and-finder in our
glorious music and collaboration.
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Barbara
Kelsey | Alto
I have been in Viva since the very
beginning and I love singing Alto.
Harmony rocks!
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Shirley Crosetti |
Soprano
I have enjoyed every minute of
singing with this wonderful choir of
excellent voices! I have been an
artist and an interior designer, but
singing with Viva has been the most
fulfilling for me.
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Rose Neely
| Soprano
Being new to the USA and away
from home, Viva has given me a sense
of family while allowing my love and
passion for music to grow. |
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Pamela Nissley |
Soprano
After years of singing pop
covers, jazz standards, blues, a
cappella and Big Band–including gigs
at The Fillmore, The Mountain
Winery, and as a back-up singer on
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno—I am
delighted that Viva has brought me
back to my roots, my first love,
classical choral singing.
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Jane
Lintott | Alto
I’ve been with Viva since before I
retired several years ago– singing,
traveling, and making lots of good
friends.
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Joni Podolsky
| Soprano
I am a community engagement
specialist who facilitates
partnerships between nonprofits and
corporations to create community
benefit. There is no greater
instrument to move the community
than good music, and I am pleased to
be a part of creating community
benefit through music and Viva! Tina
Polowyk – I am a Hewlett-Packard
retiree and I appreciate this
wonderful opportunity to have growth
and learning experience singing with
Viva.
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Sara McNinch
| Soprano
Singing with Viva! is a treat I give
myself every week.
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Silvia Pratt |
Soprano
Viva keeps me on my fresh and happy.
Memorizing the music keeps me on my
toes.
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Tina Polowyk |
Soprano
I am a Hewlett-Packard retiree and
have a Bachelor’s in Business
Administration. What a wonderful
opportunity it is to have this
tremendous growth and learning
experience to sing with Viva la
Musica, also to have this rich
interaction with all other singers.
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Gae Sares |
Soprano
Viva has taken me to Carnegie Hall,
enhanced my classical repertory and
opened up new multi-cultural avenues
for me.
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Matthew Reeve
| Bass
I am thrilled to be a member, as
Viva brings joy when needed most.
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Mary Rouse
| Alto
I sing with Viva because it keeps me
centered and provides me with
immense enjoyment.
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Lynda Silva |
Soprano
My third year with wonderful Vivans,
I am feeling especially blessed to
have sung at Carnegie Hall last
June!
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Gail Whipple |
Soprano
Viva is just one of my creative
outlets: I am also a songwriter, web
designer, advertising copywriter,
ordained minister, community
activist and life coach-in-training.
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Carla Von Merz |
Soprano
Singer, ballroom dancer, and
gardener extraordinaire in Montara!
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Tim Cooney
| Tenor
As a church choir director, I
help others to express themselves
musically. Viva helps me refuel by
singing incredible music with great
people and a superior director. |
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David Silber | Tenor
This weekend I get to listen to the
Met Opera do OFFENBACH (the Tales of
Hoffmann) and then sing BACH OFTEN
(the Baton of Hoffmann). A
“magnificat” weekend...Viva la
Musica!
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David Simon
| Bass
Retired from software engineering to
have more time for choral singing,
musical theatre, and film and
television production.
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Regine Staufenberg
| Alto
I work part-time for a children’s
music school. I enjoy the challenge
of learning Viva’s repertoire and
the fun we have performing it.
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Al Stuebing | Tenor
Former long hair, who is getting
into singing long-hair music with
this fantastic group.
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Pat Velarde
| Soprano
I have sung in various church choirs
in the Bay Area for many years and
with Viva la Musica since 2002.
Simply put, singing keeps me sane
and feeds my soul!
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Ian Ward | Bass
I work as a microscopist peering
into the world of the very small. To
be part of a group making delightful
music is doubly delicious.
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Tom Weaver
| Bass
I’m a physicist and a yogi who does
research on both cleaner sources of
energy and how the mind works.
Singing is great for getting me out
of my head!
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David Lintott
| Tenor
I started my musical career in the
Sea Scouts in the Isle of Wight.
Later I sang in a chorus in Saudi
Arabia. I have sung with Viva from
the beginning.
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Catherine Potenza |
Tenor
Tenor from Mendocino Music
Festival Chorus, happy to be here in
San Mateo with Viva!
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Ken Scully |
Tenor
With degrees in music but with a job
crunching numbers all day long, I’m
grateful to Viva for providing me
the opportunity to express myself
musically via fun and challenging
repertoire.
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Tyler Souther |
Tenor
Tyler is happy to be bach for his
third season with Viva in the tenor
section.
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Manuel F. Tabara, Jr.
| Tenor
I am a retired and expired bank
employee. Singing is on top of my
list with dancing. It helps me put
my grandkids, Eden and Christian, to
sleep. Joining Viva is a therapy to
heart and mind.
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Michelle Carter |
Alto
A former newspaper editor,
author and college instructor who
has spent a lifetime attempting to
make words sing, is now trying to do
the singing herself.
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Therese Curotto |
Soprano
As a visual artist my passions are
for things that help my spirit to
grow: creating art and music.
Interaction with fellow Vivans
brings joy and inspiration, it’s
much more than notes, it’s like
jewels that live in the heart and
soul.
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Virpi Portier |
Alto
I am a music student and part time
family assistant. My favorite thing
to do in my free time is to spend
time with my two horses, and
practice natural horsemanship.
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Lisa Reiche | Alto
Although I keep busy working
and volunteering, I always try to
make time for beautiful music in my
life, which is why Viva means so
much tome. I enjoy sharing this love
of music with my two children, Jenna
and Max.
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Jordan Eldredge |
Bass
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Michael Ruybalid |
Bass
As an elementary school music
teacher and choral director, it is
wonderful to work with such
talented, eager, and dedicated
individuals in Viva! I feel blessed!
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Michael Venturino |
Bass
Retired airline pilot who loves
to sing.
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Tim Whipple |
Bass
Tim’s formal musical training is in
classical and jazz percussion, and
he is enjoying the new musical
perspective he’s gaining with Viva
in his first serious venture as a
singer.
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Janet Wilson | Alto
An anthropologist by avocation and
an optician by vocation; I am a
raconteur, lover of animals, and
photographer by habit, whose life
has been enriched by my experience
with Viva as I never would have
thought possible.
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Seoung Lee Wilson
| Alto
I am a retired college voice
professor. To sing with Viva is to
be constantly challenged as a singer
and a musician.
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Joyce Wright
| Alto
Viva constantly challenges and
inspires me… I’m always learning new
things and having a wonderful time!
And you couldn’t find a nicer group
of people to share it all with.
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